Macedonia approves controversial official use of Albanian language law amid fierce opposition

Skopje, March 15 (Tirana Echo) – Macedonia’s parliament has managed to approve a bill making the Albanian language official in the small Balkan country, amid fierce resistance from opposition’s main party VMRO-DPMNE.

The bill got 64 out of 120 votes in parliament, while the voting session took place under heavy tension, where former PM Nicola Gruevski attacked minority Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferri, himself from the Albanian political ranks.

Right wing VMRO-DPMNE says the bill would put Macedonia’s unity at risk, and staged protests inside and outside the parliament building.

President Ivanov, will now have to sign the new bill after having vetoed the first time.

The small landlocked Balkan country accounts for around 2 million people where up to a quarter are of Albanian origin. Albanian language had already been recognized as an official language in those areas where at least 20% of the population was Albanian speaking.

However the new law would make Albanian an equal official language, similar to the majority Macedonian Slav language. Albanian can now be used nationally in all state institutions, including the police, administration and hospitals.

Macedonia has been going through continuous turmoil until Albanian political parties demanded the bill as a condition to join the social-democratic government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

The country has a bitter inter-ethnic history, with ethnic Albanians rising into armed insurgency in 2001, finally ensuring greater rights for the Albanian minority in the Slavic majority country.